Crackin' Football!

[Morbyd]

Just home from the sports bar. I know I'm going to open myself up to ridicule here, but what a killer night of football! The Premiership lives!

We went to watch Aston Villa v. Chelsea but couldn't keep our eyes off all the other screens around. It was one of those nights where all the mid-table teams, and even lower-table teams, put in performances to be proud of. There is competion in the Premiership, despite what the pundits say. To wit:

- Aston Villa getting a much deserved 1-1 draw over a sub-par Chelsea (and might have won if they'd been awarded a deserved penalty for a JT handball)

- 10-man Birmingham managing a 1-1 draw (with a bit of help from Alonso )

- Blackburn taking all 3 points against Man U (though props to United for fighting back from 4-1 to come close at 4-3)

- West Ham being outshot more than 2-1 but still holding on to beat Arsenal 3-2.

I didn't see the other games, though I know Man City did well.

Another highlight was watching Ronaldinho go into hysterics when sent off against Zaragoza Barca were up 1-0 when we left, though, so they'll probably do alright.

 

[Morbyd]

Damn... must stay away from computer after drinking. I just figured out you can't delete a thread once you've started it

 

[Paddy Eeziglow]

Damn... must stay away from computer after drinking. I just figured out you can't delete a thread once you've started it

Ha ha, that's cool. I'm a Blackburn fan myself, so to have our result recognised by a rival fan just made my day8)

 

[silvia]

Another highlight was watching Ronaldinho go into hysterics when sent off against Zaragoza Barca were up 1-0 when we left, though, so they'll probably do alright.

Did you see the match?
We are off from the cup thanks to a referree and not only cos Ronaldinho was off, that may be funny to you, but it's a big shame for the spanish football. Anyway, we keep wining games even with 10 players, no Eto'o and no Ronaldinho.
And if I was you I wouldn't laugh. Next game for Ronaldinho will be Chelsea

 

[Buckley]

Anyone see Ferdinand's tackle on Savage? Was it revenge after their recent handbags in the tunnel? Worth a sending off?

Apparently Campbell left Highbury in a strop after his half time substitution, after he been given a 'get on the weights' by Zamora and taken an air shot to let Reo-Coker in for goal number 1.

 

[Buckley]

Just found out that two mates of mine who were at Highbury had £50 each at 95-1 on West Ham to win 3-2.

Not a bad evening's work!

 

[jjinit]

great night all round, rags get smacked, city turn newcastle over, who could ask for more??

 

[grego]

great night all round, rags get smacked, city turn newcastle over, who could ask for more??

who could ask for more??????????

errr.........joey barton

 

[Buckley]

who could ask for more??????????

errr.........joey barton

Pearce as Fagin, Barton as Oliver - the Man City Christmas Panto is born!

 

[jjinit]

Very quick Grego....buckers......not so good but 10 outta 10 for effort which I beleive is what Joey B got for last nights game.

p.s rumours that the main reason for the transfer request was down to Barton no longer being able to hitch a lift into work from Robbie Fowler, are unsubstanciated.

 

[grego]

Very quick Grego....buckers......not so good but 10 outta 10 for effort which I beleive is what Joey B got for last nights game.

p.s rumours that the main reason for the transfer request was down to Barton no longer being able to hitch a lift into work from Robbie Fowler, are unsubstanciated.

made me laugh when there was talk of him going to Manure, for the continued scouse infiltration of course

 

[jjinit]

made me laugh when there was talk of him going to Manure, for the continued scouse infiltration of course

yeah me too, after recent showings they could do with him though. A lot of stuff & nonsense has been written about this over tghe last couple of days, he was even quoted this morning as saying he had probably been a tad impetuous by slapping in a transfer request, but he maintains that he wants more money...which is fair enough I suppose, he is an integral part of the team so deserves to be remunerated thus, what grates is that a lot of city fans (me included) think he is lucky to still be playing in light of recent off field events. I think Pearcy (as he usually does) hit the nail on the head last night by saying that Barton is where he is on merit, he showed last night what he is capable of and how much he has improved as a player and that he still needs to deliver performances like that to stay in the team. It was interesting that when his name was read out before kickoff he opted not to applaud the fans in the customary way and was roundly jeered, however when he was subbed at the end he got a standing ovation and applauded the crowd...footy very fickle eh?? Hopefully this will be sorted and he will put pen to paper as personally I would be sad to see him go.

 

[grego]

yeah me too, after recent showings they could do with him though. A lot of stuff & nonsense has been written about this over tghe last couple of days, he was even quoted this morning as saying he had probably been a tad impetuous by slapping in a transfer request, but he maintains that he wants more money...which is fair enough I suppose, he is an integral part of the team so deserves to be remunerated thus, what grates is that a lot of city fans (me included) think he is lucky to still be playing in light of recent off field events. I think Pearcy (as he usually does) hit the nail on the head last night by saying that Barton is where he is on merit, he showed last night what he is capable of and how much he has improved as a player and that he still needs to deliver performances like that to stay in the team. It was interesting that when his name was read out before kickoff he opted not to applaud the fans in the customary way and was roundly jeered, however when he was subbed at the end he got a standing ovation and applauded the crowd...footy very fickle eh?? Hopefully this will be sorted and he will put pen to paper as personally I would be sad to see him go.

agree with you overall jj, but disagree in that i just can't see him signing and staying.

He wants more money yeah but really i think he just wants to play for a big club

*ducks*

 

[jjinit]

yeah, you might wanna duck you cheeky bar steward!!!

 

[Morbyd]

Did you see the match?
We are off from the cup thanks to a referree and not only cos Ronaldinho was off, that may be funny to you, but it's a big shame for the spanish football. Anyway, we keep wining games even with 10 players, no Eto'o and no Ronaldinho.
And if I was you I wouldn't laugh. Next game for Ronaldinho will be Chelsea

Sil! Don't get so worked up!

We saw about a quarter of the match (with one eye on other screens around us). I thought it was a harsh sending off, so you and I obviously agree on that. My wife insisted it was typical overzealous European refereeing (though Birmingham had someone sent off for a similar tackle last night, though the ref that did it - Uriah Rennie - has to be the worst in the EPL)

The only funny thing... well, not really funny but sad, were the hysterics Ronaldinho went into after his card. It was a bit over-emotional.

 

[grego]

though the ref that did it - Uriah Rennie - has to be the worst in the EPL

we've come to accept a poor standard of refereeing in the prem but no one has been as consistently poor for such a long time as Uriah-nal .

in fact, just thinkin about it, i can't actually believe he is still around

 

[Morbyd]

I don't know if it's true, but I've always had the feeling he's kept around because he's the most senior black ref in the England. Well, I'm black, and I'd prefer he get fired than to keep this sorry excuse for a ref around for that reason! (though the league wouldn't be hurt by a bit more diversity overall)

 

[grego]

I don't know if it's true, but I've always had the feeling he's kept around because he's the most senior black ref in the England. Well, I'm black, and I'd prefer he get fired than to keep this sorry excuse for a ref around for that reason! (though the league wouldn't be hurt by a bit more diversity overall)

thats kind of been on the grapevine for a while but its not exactly something that can be discussed in the public realm without a tabloid outcry and mud slinging session. Moreover, the FA is exactly the type of backward org that thinks positive discrimination means employing a crap ref.

 

[silvia]

Sil! Don't get so worked up!

We saw about a quarter of the match (with one eye on other screens around us). I thought it was a harsh sending off, so you and I obviously agree on that. My wife insisted it was typical overzealous European refereeing (though Birmingham had someone sent off for a similar tackle last night, though the ref that did it - Uriah Rennie - has to be the worst in the EPL)

The only funny thing... well, not really funny but sad, were the hysterics Ronaldinho went into after his card. It was a bit over-emotional.

I know I know sorry, I'm really annoyed with this, it was such a good game spoiled by the referee that myself went over-emotional
Do you know it's his first red ever? And don't forget he is latin so exageration is on the cards
It was a good game, Zaragoza played great, their gol was amazing

and I hope they win the cup. But the referee seemed to play two different games, one for Barça and one for Zaragoza, he even ended the game one minute before of the added time.

Our referees are pathetic. I don't know how are in England or other countries, but here are a shame.

 

[russ]

games in hand now played out:

spurs still 4th.